Eagle sculpture joins Dewi the Dragon in guarding Harlech caravan parks

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by Joe Jeffrey

Sculptures commissioned by Salop Leisure takes pride of place at caravan parks

A spectacular Welsh dragon sculpture has returned to the Cambrian Coast where he is set to guard a new caravan park in the shadow of an ancient castle.

The eye-catching 16-foot long, 11ft high and 10ft wide metal dragon, named Dewi, has spent the winter on a pampering holiday over the border in England, but he’s now back in Harlech looking better than ever.

Dewi has moved a few hundred yards to a new home, however, as he has taken up residence on Castle View Holiday Home Park, which nestles next door to his previous perch at the award-winning Min-y-Don Holiday Home and Touring Park.

The new caravan park is being redeveloped in two phases at a cost of £2 million to create 60 caravan holiday home pitches.

Taking Dewi’s place guarding Min-y-Don Holiday Home and Touring Park is a giant eagle sculpture, which has flown to Wales from caravan dealership Salop Leisure’s Shrewsbury headquarters.

Salop Leisure, which has commissioned impressive metal sculptures for its headquarters and four caravan parks, is now in the process of ordering a new showpiece. No final decision has been made but one of the options for the entrance to the Emstrey headquarters is a giant dragonfly.

The sculptures are made by Marche Studios at Ford, near Shrewsbury who have already made two eagles, one of which guards the entrance to Morbyn Isaf Holiday Home and Touring Park, near Machynlleth and a leaping salmon and oak tree for Seven Oaks Holiday Home Park at Crew Green, near Shrewsbury.

“The sculptures are a point of difference on our parks and are appreciated by our customers,” said Salop Leisure’s chairman Tony Bywater.

“The sculptures are a very worthwhile investment in works of art and to date we have spent around £60,000 on them.

“Dewi has turned heads and been a real talking point wherever he has been and we are delighted that he’s now back in Harlech looking better than ever after his winter pampering. He looks fantastic set against the backdrop of Harlech Castle, which is a World Heritage site.”

Dewi became a major tourist attraction when he was initially based at Salop Leisure’s roadside headquarters at Emstrey and has been popular with visitors to Harlech since 2011.

The dragon took 732 hours to be crafted and comprises 2,500 different sized scales welded onto a frame. The scales, cut from 78 square metres of sheet metal, were polished and given 12 coats of lacquer. Now it’s time for Dewi to have a makeover.

New competition to win a week in a brand new 2017 season Elddis caravan

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by Joe Jeffrey

Glossop Caravans offers one lucky family the opportunity to mark its 40th anniversary with a free holiday

Glossop Caravans is about to hit the big 4-0 and, to mark the occasion, will be offering one luck family the opportunity to win a free holiday at The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Barnard Castle site in a brand new, yet-to-be-seen 2017 season Elddis caravan.

The competition is just one of the reasons why it’s certainly in your best interests to visit Glossop Caravans this weekend, where the Derbyshire dealership will also be hosting an array of activities to celebrate its 40th milestone, including radio broadcasts, towing masterclasses, and even a caravan clinic. Younger visitors will also catered for and the weekend will feature a circus skills workshops and magicians.

Furthermore, every caravan purchased during the celebration period, which runs all week until Sunday 5 June, will come with a free Glossop anniversary towing cover.

It doesn’t stop there though, and a prize draw will be running throughout the event with prizes including Camping and Caravanning Club membership, caravan servicing, motormovers, barbecues and outdoor furniture.

Survey suggests children are suffering from lack of outdoor activities

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by Joe Jeffrey

Children’s mental health under the microscope ahead of Get Kids Outdoors with Camping campaign

Children in the UK are falling behind in the happiness stakes because they spend too much time indoors, according to a new survey that has found around one in two UK adults worry their children or grandchildren aren’t as happy as they were at the same age.

The survey, conducted by The Camping and Caravanning Club as part of a campaign to “Get Kids Outdoors with Camping” also found a third of adults believe they were much happier as a child themselves, with a startling 96 per cent stating the reason for this being that they spent more time outdoors, interacting with other children rather than sitting in front of a screen, like much of today’s younger generation.

Findings also revealed that four out of five (88 per cent) adults believe that spending more time outdoors and going on camping trips would help improve children’s social skills and mental health, because it would teach them how to interact, adapt and operate in real life and practical situations. Yet half (50 per cent) admit their children don’t spend enough time outdoors and over two thirds (69 per cent) say their children spend more time indoors than outdoors.

Furthermore, 72 per cent of all adults believe that social media and online gaming have a negative effect on children’s ability to engage and interact in real life situations.

Barnardo’s chief executive, Javed Khan, said: “Being active and having quality family time are two things that help children and young people thrive. Getting out and about together on an exciting camping adventure or for a walk to the local park is positive mentally and physically. As well as health benefits, spending less time online could reduce the hidden dangers children are exposed to online.”

The survey also revealed that the majority (86 per cent) of adults believe that encouraging children to spend more quality time in the Great British outdoors and on camping trips could help to increase physical health and fitness and in turn fight against the current, so-called obesity ‘epidemic’. More than a third agreed that being active in earlier life means the child would be more likely to retain a level of fitness in adult life. Yet recent figures¹ suggest only 21 per cent of children today regularly play outdoors, compared to 71 per cent of their parents.

Launching next week, the Get Kids Outdoors with Camping campaign, which coincides with National Camping and Caravanning Week (30 May – 5 June), will see The Camping and Caravanning Club embark on a national roadshow, visiting popular areas of the UK, to demonstrate and reinforce the mental and physical benefits that getting out into the great outdoors can have on adults and children alike.

Camping and Caravanning Club president and TV presenter Julia Bradbury, who kick started the campaign by camping overnight on top of the O2 Arena on 24 May 2016, said: “There’s no question our kids are missing out; apparently the likelihood of a child visiting any green space has halved in a generation. Children are becoming disconnected from the natural environment and that is having a detrimental effect on their development. Outdoor adventures help with physical development and build emotional resilience. Get them off the screens and get them outdoors!”

The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Get Kids Outdoors with Camping Roadshow will kick off on Monday 30 May at Twycross Zoo, before pitching up at Cardiff Bay on Thursday 2 June, taking in Gulliver’s, Milton Keynes, the British Caravanners Club Rally, Evesham and the Canoe Camping Club Rally, Hereford in between. The Roadshow will then make its way up to Blair Drummond Safari Park, Sterling, Scotland to set up camp on Saturday 4 June . Adults and children of all ages are invited to join members of The Camping and Caravanning Club to discover all the fun and activities there are to be had by camping in the great outdoors.

What do you think of kids today? Do you think you were happier when you were a child and, if so, why?

IAM RoadSmart gears up to celebrate 60 years of safety

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by Joe Jeffrey

Read on to find out how you can attend IAM RoadSmart’s car and bike parties here

IAM RoadSmart (formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists) is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2016. Over the last 60 years more than 400,000 people have taken their skills to the next level and become advanced drivers or riders with the organisation.

To mark the anniversary, IAM Roadsmart will be staging two parties; one for bike enthusiasts on 2 July and another for car buffs on 9 July. Isle of Man TT winners Steve Plater and Mick Grant will be attending the bike party, while rally legend Paddy Hopkirk will be special guest at the car party. The parties will take place at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on 2 July and a car party at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon on 9 July, respectively, and visitors will also have the chance to have their car or bike take centre stage as part of the magnificent #60bikes and #60cars displays. IAM RoadSmart is looking for one motorcycle or scooter manufactured in each year of IAM/IAM RoadSmart’s existence for the 2 July party, and the equivalent for the car party on 9 July.

Sarah Sillars, IAM RoadSmart chief executive officer, said: “We are proud of what we’ve achieved over the past 60 years. In co-operation with our group volunteers and the willingness of the motoring and riding public, we have all worked to improve lives for the better and have seen road fatalities and injuries plummet over the decades.

“As IAM RoadSmart we are now ready for the next 60 years. There will always be a need to make better drivers and riders whatever happens to the transport landscape in the UK. Our work will only become more relevant in the future.

“Our events on 2 and 9 July will be a chance for people to celebrate their love of cars, bikes and most importantly driving. They are an important part of so many of our lives for so many reasons. We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.”

See below for some interesting facts surrounding IAM Roadsmart:

– The organisation was established in 1956. By 1995 the IAM had guided its 250,000th member through his advanced test and in the past 21 years 150,000 more have taken the opportunity to improve their skills on the road.

– In 1962 the organisation introduced the first test for commercial vehicle drivers in the UK and in 1976 the IAM introduced its first motorcycle test. A decade later it launched a fleet training programme for businesses.

– By 1998 the IAM’s 200th local group was formed; today there are 207. The local groups are the lifeblood of IAM RoadSmart, coaching and testing potential advanced drivers and riders week-in week-out. Currently there are more than 5,000 volunteers representing the groups across the UK.

– By the 2000’s the IAM was increasingly involved in lobbying the government for change in transport legislation. Its manifesto became widely respected for setting out the scene of what it regarded as the most essential developments in road safety – such as a graduated driving licence system and introducing road safety to the National Curriculum.

– In 2016 the Institute of Advanced Motorists was renamed IAM RoadSmart, and over the coming year will launch a range of products which support specific needs, to include driving at night, rural driving and motorway driving.

– IAM RoadSmart operates a commercial division which addresses the specific needs of business drivers and fleets with a suite of courses and advice. It also provides drink-drive rehabilitation courses through its Driver Retraining Academy subsidiary.

To join in with the celebrations, check out more details on the bike party here or the car party here.

Relationship between caravan holidays and cycling highlighted in new poll

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by Joe Jeffrey

Survey reveals 89 per cent of caravananners take an extra set of wheels with them
 
The relationship between caravan and motorhome owners and an extra set of wheels to take away when on tour has been highlighted in a new survey conducted by caravan and motorhome insurance specialists, Caravan Guard.
 
A huge 89 per cent of those questioned in the survey indicated that when touring in their caravan or motorhome it was commonplace to take a bike or bikes along with them for the ride.
 
There was no stand out winner for the most popular type of bike, with the hybrid, electric and mountain bikes, each chaining up a fifth of the votes, and road bikes getting 14 per cent of the share.

One Caravan Guard customer surveyed, pensioner Graham Round, said it was a great way to get around without moving the motorhome.  “We also tow our two small dogs in a doggy hut, they love it,” he added.
 
Another, Fraser Gill, said he’d be stuck without bikes. He said: “Last year we did hundreds of miles on our hybrids. Sturdy, and good for road and tracks. Panniers for our shopping and picnics,” he said. “We are fortunate that we are able to get out on them, but might consider electric in future.”

What do you think about the results of this survey? Do you take a bike along with you when you hit the road in order to explore the great outdoors just that little bit more? Let us know in the comments below.

Cumbria caravan park makes a splash with wild swimmers

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by Joe Jeffrey

Park in Cumbria offers ideal opportunity to get to grips with wild swimming

People with a passion for plunging into lakes, pools and rivers are helping to make a Cumbria caravan park the county’s capital for what has become known as ‘wild swimming’.

Skelwith Fold Caravan park near Ambleside says that lists of top wild swimming locations in the Lake District invariably place the park at the epicentre of opportunities.

As a result, it reports, touring caravan and motorhome owners who enjoy stripping off and slipping into cool, clear waters represent a fast-growing sector of guests.

Now park visitors even have their own personal adviser to natural swimming sites in the form of Jess Sutcliffe, a member of Skelwith Fold’s customer services team.

Jess, who raised £1,700 for Parkinson’s UK when she took part in Windermere’s Great North Swim, says wild dippers get the best of all worlds at the park:

“There is a fantastic range of options just a short drive away, including lovely secret coves and beaches, waterfalls and tranquil glades with pools,” said Jess.

“But where we really score is that you don’t have to follow up a liberating wild water experience by returning to built-up surroundings afterwards.

“Skelwith Fold is in the heart of over one hundred acres of parkland, so you can retain that wonderful sense of closeness to the natural world which many swimmers say they enjoy.

“And just as welcoming on your return are the hot showers in our facility buildings, perhaps followed by a warming latte as you plan
your next wild swimming experience,” said Jess.

Fresh water lovers without their own touring caravan or motorhome can now stay in one of Skelwith Fold’s Hideaway pods which are located in a forest glade.

Accommodating two people, each pod features a comfortable double bed, shower and loo, kitchen zone with microwave, oven and fridge, TV, and lounge-cum-dining space.

Measuring just 14ft x 10ft, the “posh pods” also boast large picture windows, and folding fully-glazed doors leading onto a timber decking area with a pull-out sunshade.

The park also provides caravan holiday homes to own, and Jess says that the chance to enjoy wild swimming nearby provides an extra incentive for a number of buyers:

“Some of our guests use wet suits when dipping, and other prefer the invigorating sensation of taking the plunge with as little on as possible – but either way, it’s a fantastic feeling!

“There are now also many health benefits associated with natural swimming, and the Lake District’s waters are among the cleanest, most accessible and loveliest in Britain,” she added.

A list of more than 20 wild swimming sites in Cumbria can be by clicking here.  

Research signals surge in caravan holidays over stress of leaving pets behind

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by Joe Jeffrey

Surge in caravan holidays may just be attributed to our furry, four-legged friends

As if we needed any more reasons to hit the great outdoors in our trusty caravans as opposed to hopping on a plane abroad, a new survey has revealed that the holiday season can actually be more stressful than exciting for 46 per cent of households that own pets in the UK.

According to new research conducted by pet-sitting search website, Pawshake, 87 per cent of Brits admit to checking on their pets’ wellbeing when on holiday.

Additional findings show that more than a quarter of pet owners admit that they like to speak directly to their pet while on holiday, choosing to do so via phone, Skype and FaceTime.

And some pet owners consider going to even further extremes when they’re away and might even opt to stay at home.

It seems as though our pets play such an integral in family life that an astonishing 82 per of pet owners admit they have gone as far as considering cancelling their holidays having failed to find a reliable option for taking care of their furry family members while soaking up the sun.

Additionally, for some families, the cost of boarding kennels can be as high as £50 per day, adding another £300 per week to the price of a holiday.

These cost factors, as well as our love for our four-legged friends, may have also influenced the increase in staycations, enabling not just humans to enjoy pastures new. And, with a surge in caravan holidays including a whopping 550 per cent increase in holiday bookings to Cornwall.

With a surge in bookings in caravan holidays and a recently reported 550 per cent increase in holiday bookings to Cornwall alone for 2016, it seems that pet lovers are making sure that their pets get a bit of a deserved break too.

What do you think of these recent findings? Do you take your pet along for the ride when you go on holiday? Let us know in the comments below.

Caravan park battles with insurance company over destruction caused by Storm Frank

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by Joe Jeffrey

Insurance company refusing to budge on payout in flooding vs storm discrepancy

Owners of a caravan park in Scotland are facing a fierce battle for compensation with their insurance company six months after the devastating effects of floods caused by Storm Frank took hold.

Mobile Homes Insurance Service (MHIS) is refusing to pay compensation on the grounds that damage caused by Storm Frank at Ballater Caravan Park was the result of flooding and not storm damage.

Ballater, on Royal Deeside, was among the areas worst hit by storms over Christmas and New Year which swept away roads and destroyed houses.

Right Claim UK’s Neil Forbes weighed in on the situation, saying: “It’s a scandalous situation. Our argument is that the cause of the incident was Storm Frank. We’re very hopeful about succeeding in the claims.”

MHIS said the clause relating to flooding was brought to the attention of policyholders. A spokesperson for the insurance company said: “It should be noted that each policyholder willingly accepted the cover on the basis that any flood damage would not be covered.

“All the policies exclude any cover for damage caused by floods whether or not this is as a result of storm.

“This exclusion was brought to the attention of every policyholder when they purchased their policy.”

Alastair Ross from the Association of British Insurers said: “Insurance companies need to make sure people understand the products they’re selling them and for their part people really need to understand what they’re buying into.”

Do you think the MHIS are within their rights to hold off from paying compensation? Let us know in the comments below.

Julia Bradbury camps overnight on top of The O2 to kick start National Camping and Caravanning Week and Duke of Edinburgh Awards Diamond Challenge

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by Joe Jeffrey

Camping and Caravanning Club president reaches dizzy heights to promote campaign

TV presenter Julia Bradbury has spent the night camping on top of London’s O2 Arena as part of a joint celebration of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’s diamond anniversary and The Camping and Caravanning Club’s annual National Camping and Caravanning Week.

Bradbury completed the 350m walk to reach the top of The O2, in Greenwich, South East London, at dusk on last night (24 May), before pitching her tent on a platform 52m above ground level, the equivalent of almost 12 London buses. After waking up to a 360 degree view of London, Julia made her way back down at around 9am this morning.

As a passionate supporter of both organisations and of the great outdoors, the ambassador for The Camping and Caravanning Club took on the challenge as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Diamond Challenge, a one-off initiative encouraging people of all ages to do something adventurous and get out of their comfort zones in 2016, the Duke of Edinburgh charity’s diamond anniversary year.

Speaking ahead of her challenge, Bradbury said: “I hope my night camping on the roof of The O2 inspires everyone to get out there and challenge themselves with an outdoor adventure of their own. I’m proud to be supporting two iconic organisations in the outdoor world. Both the DofE and CCC are doing inspiring things to motivate people to get outside. I’m looking forward to being one of very few people to have spent the night on top of The O2!”

The Duke of Edinburgh Award’s chief executive, Peter Westgarth, said: “We’re delighted Julia agreed to support us in our Diamond Anniversary year. Camping overnight in the outdoors can be daunting to some, but to camp on top of a London landmark is certainly a first! Doing a Diamond Challenge this year is the perfect opportunity for everyone to have a go at something new while raising much-needed funds for our charity to help us reach out to even more young people. With seven months left, it’s still not too late to sign up and do your very own Challenge.”

To find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh Diamond Challenge and get involved, click here now.

Salop Leisure helps son towards father’s cancer charity target

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by Joe Jeffrey

Salop Leisure climbs on board charity challenge for great cause

A son’s mission to raise £8,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support to say thank you to the charity for supporting his father who is battling terminal cancer, has this week received a £1,000 boost from his employer.

Max Ball, 24, a marketing assistant at Shrewsbury-based caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure, has seen the total raised towards his target rise to in excess of £6,000 following the company contribution.

The £1,000 is made up of donations for tea and coffee served by Salop Leisure at the recent West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Show and a sponsorship from a charity football match the company played against Greenhous Group at the Greenhous Meadow Stadium.

Max set himself 12 different sponsored challenges – MaxAndTheMac12 – during 2016 after his father, Steve, was diagnosed with oesophagus cancer last October. Steve has recently completed a course of chemotherapy at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The support from workmates, family, friends and sponsors has overwhelmed Max and he’s now very confident of exceeding his £8,000 fundraising target.

“The money raised by MaxAndTheMac12 will help Macmillan to reach more people with cancer and improve the quality of care and support available to them during their cancer journey,” he said.

He has already taken on a solo bungee jump at Tamworth Bungee Club, tackled the Dash of the Titan mud run in Nottinghamshire, joined a team from Salop Leisure to sit on half the 9,875 seats in Shrewsbury Town’s Greenhous Meadow stadium and performed a scene from ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in The Square in Shrewsbury for Shakespeare Day.

When he, workmate Adam Franklin and friends Ash Piele and Steve Wright took on the Rough Runner Challenge near Oxford last week, things didn’t go exactly to plan. For Steve ended up in hospital for the night after gashing his forehead after falling on one of the obstacles. Max and the other two contestants managed to complete the challenge.

Next up for Max is the Shrewsbury Half Marathon on June 19, followed by the National Three Peaks Race from July 1-3, a foot golf tournament on July 24, white water rafting in Llangollen and a 24 hour squashathon at Kingsland Squash Club, Shrewsbury in August, Shrewsbury Sprint Triathlon on September 4 and a 106 kilometre ride at Ludlow Cycling Festival on September 18.

As an extra fundraiser, he’s planning a bake-off amongst Salop Leisure staff to coincide with Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on September 30.

Salop Leisure workmates Tony Cooke and Ed Glover also raised £1,200 by taking part in The 2016 Macmillan 4×4 Challenge earlier this year.

Anyone wishing to support Max can donate by clicking here now.

Moment caravan crashes caught on film

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by Joe Jeffrey

Moment caravan careers out of control captured on lorry driver’s dashcam

A lorry driver’s dash cam has caught the terrifying moment a caravan jackknifed and spun out of control on a busy stretch of road.

The footage showing the incident, which took place on the A90 four miles north of Dundee, Scotland, on Friday evening shortly before 7pm, shows the caravan being towed along the road by a VW Passat before the caravanner decides to overtake the lorry at speed. The result, as you will see from the footage captured below, was catastrophic – at least for the caravan – but thankfully no one was injured.

Traffic delays were imminent, however, following the crash, and vehicles were blocked on the southbound carriage way as emergency services attended the scene. The wreckage of the caravan was removed from the side of the road later that evening.

Make sure you check out the footage below and let us know: what do you think the caravanner could have done to avert crashing? It would be interesting to know your thoughts.

France takes the top spot as most popular overseas destination

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by Joe Jeffrey

Sun, sea and emails all the way as increase in French bookings continues

France remains the most popular overseas destination with British campers and caravanners, according to bookings made through The Camping and Caravanning Club.

In 2015, 50 per cent of bookings made through the Club’s European travel service were for pitches on sites in France, making it the Club’s most popular European destination.

And now, with new French sites included for 2016 among the Club’s 90 hand-picked partner sites, strong advance bookings are indicating France’s popularity is set to grow further.

Bookings for the 198-pitch La Bien Assise campsite, around eight miles from the ferry port and handy for Boulogne and the Opal Coast, make it one of the most popular sites with Club members for the second consecutive year.

But topping the table, Le Letty campsite in the Finisterre department of western Brittany was the Club’s most popular holiday site in 2015 and offers direct beach access and a large indoor and outdoor pool complex.

With more than 40 World Heritage Sites including fine cathedrals and stunning châteaux, prehistoric monuments, three very different coastlines, several major mountain ranges, it is easy to see why many caravanners are venturing out further afield.

Richard Grimsdale, the Club’s travel services director, said: “France holds a unique appeal and charm with our customers, and many choose to return year after year to take in the unique food and culture of the country.

“Our Travel Service makes it easy for our customers to book all components of their camping trip safely, quickly, easily and securely.”
The Camping and Caravanning Club’s 2016 European Camping Holidays brochure is now available and features more than 140 hand-picked sites in 12 European destinations.

To download the brochure, click here now.